When she left the Vandyk duchy, Martiana’s belongings were far more modest than expected.

She had one change of clothes — the outfit she was wearing — and a small bag.

Although she was being exiled, this was pitifully shabby for someone who had been duchess for five years.

The carriage that her mother-in-law had prepared was no different.

“Ride that. It will take you to the villa.”

Drisena, who had come out to see her off, tilted her chin slightly and folded her arms across her chest.

The way she moved — only turning her head and chin to give instructions, standing stiffly and straight — did not resemble someone saying goodbye to a family member.

In fact, she looked relieved.

“I’ll send a maid later. No one volunteered, so what can I do? You’ll be fine on your own for a few days, won’t you? Besides, you like shutting yourself away here anyway.”

Her tone was almost generous.

In truth, however, it was a declaration of neglect.

Even the maid she mentioned had no set start date. Nobody could say when, or indeed if, one would be sent.

Perhaps she would never be inclined to do so.

“……”

Martiana offered no reply.

Setting aside the fact that she had no grounds to refute it, she could hardly make any demands now that she was divorced.

No one had ever truly welcomed her here.

Now that she was leaving the duchy, were they not quietly pleased?

She had been such a burden.

The duchess had closed her mouth — and her heart.

‘Perhaps this is better.’

Martiana was alone at a villa, with no one else around.

Martiana had grown weary of the whispers that followed her wherever she went.

Perhaps what she needed was silence.

It would probably take about two weeks for the divorce papers to be formally processed.

She could endure that long, at least.

‘Ha.’

As she steadied herself, her lips twisted.

Endure?

The thought, springing up on its own, was utterly repulsive.

‘What am I supposed to endure?’

As if a mother who has lost her child has any right to carry on living!

Don’t you dare.

You don’t even know where your daughter is or whether she’s safe or in pain. What right do you have to survive?

If there’s no maid, then live without one.

If the house gets dirty, leave it that way.

If there’s nothing to eat, starve.

You deserve that, Martiana.

You have no right to live in comfort.

“…”

She bit down hard on her lip.

The voice of self-reproach echoing in her mind shook her frail, withered body. For the past five years, she had been doing the same: punishing herself over and over again.

It was foolish beyond reason, and she knew it. But what else could she do?

Without the punishment, she could not endure.

She had lost a child who was more precious to her than her own life. The person who had been her entire world had been torn away from her.

There were no words capable of describing the depth of her pain.

No matter how much she cried at night or how much she regretted it, time would never turn back.

‘So it’s better to forget.’

It would never truly be forgotten—but she did not regret her decision to leave the Vandyk duchy. To her, that household was pain.

And above all—

‘Siliar.’

Seeing him had become t*rture.

“Hu…”

Martiana let out a long breath as she lifted her gaze toward the wing where her husband’s study was located.

The heavy curtains drawn across the windows looked as suffocating as her tightly sealed heart.

‘How did we end up like this?’

There had once been a time when she loved him more than anyone.

And now, even recalling him brought her pain.

Slowly, Martiana lowered her head.

Then—

“Child, what is that expression? Don’t tell me—you’re upset because Siliar didn’t come out?”

Drisena followed Martiana’s gaze and, raising her voice in disbelief, asked whether she truly expected such courtesy after being cast out.

Nevertheless, Martiana gave a quiet nod.

She had not truly expected a farewell. However, after hearing Drisena’s words, she felt that a parting greeting would have been appropriate.

After all, once she left in this manner, they would probably never see each other again.

“What? You were really waiting? Honestly. He’s not here. Don’t wait.”

“……?”

“Silar isn’t home. He left for a provincial inspection a while ago. What kind of wife doesn’t know what her husband is doing?”

Drisena pressed her fingers to her forehead in irritation, then continued, as though granting one final act of charity.

“He left because he didn’t want to see you. That’s why he entrusted the divorce papers to me. Stop dragging this out and go. Don’t make yourself a burden.”

Claiming that she would not wait another second, Drisena impatiently waved her arm, shoving Martiana forward and leaving her no chance to resist.

In the end, Martiana climbed into the carriage.

She never once imagined that it was a carriage bound for her death.

***

It didn’t take her long to realize that there was something wrong with the carriage.

They had not travelled far from the duchy of Vandyk.

On a desolate stretch of road between the estate and the nearest village, the carriage, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly stopped.

Then a man she had never seen before yanked the door open.

“The Duchess of Vandyk?”

Without so much as a greeting, he burst in and treated her as roughly as he appeared.

Before she could react, he shoved the stunned Martiana into the corner of the carriage.

But that was not all.

Still unsatisfied, he clamped a hand over her mouth and smashed her head repeatedly against the carriage wall to prevent her from fleeing.

“……!”

“Sorry about this. I’ve got to earn my pay.”

The man’s voice came from beyond the large hand pressing her down. Despite his apology, he sounded anything but remorseful.

“It’ll be over soon.”

A dagger slid from his waist and moved toward her throat.

At the sight of the blade poised to strike at any moment, Martiana’s eyes trembled violently.

‘He’s going to k*ll me.’

The situation was clear to anyone.

It was impossible to pretend otherwise. Only a fool would fail to grasp that.

A stranger was pressing a blade towards her vital spot.

She could feel the cold steel of the blade grazing her skin.

“Mmph—!”

Martiana thrashed around wildly. She struggled desperately to escape. She didn’t know who had sent him, but she was determined not to die like this.

It was useless.

Even when she tried to push him away, she lacked the strength. She had barely eaten for years, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.

What should she do?

Her eyes darted frantically around.

‘Am I going to die like this?’

She didn’t want that.

It was absurd for someone who had been living like a walking corpse to think that way, but she still did not want to die.

She did not want to be killed in such a wretched way by someone else.

And more than anything—

‘I haven’t seen Lili again!’

At that moment, one presence rose above all others: It was her daughter, whose life or death she did not even know.

She could not die without knowing. Even if she were to die, she would see her daughter’s face first!

Martiana flung her arm towards the man with all her might. She failed to push him away, but she would try again.

“Let’s not make this troublesome, shall we?”

The man scowled as he grabbed the arm clutching his collar.

At that moment, Martiana’s brows furrowed as well.

“……!”

She had noticed something.

Hidden beneath his collar and concealed inside his clothes, a small pouch hung around his neck. Judging by how carefully it was hidden, it must be valuable.

It was.

The moment she tore it free, the man screamed.

“Ah! Hey!”

Jewels spilled out of the torn pouch, scattering across the ground.

At the same time, the hand covering her mouth was released.

However, the man was too busy scrambling to collect the fallen gems to notice.

“Do you know how much those are worth?!”

This was her chance.

Martiana flung open the door of the carriage opposite and threw herself out.

Then she ran.

She could hear the man shouting behind her but ignored him.

‘Don’t get caught! If I’m caught, I’ll die!’

It was that single thought that drove her forward. But how long could a body confined to a room for five years endure?

Her breath grew ragged.

Her legs shook violently.

She could already hear him catching up with her.

What should she do? What could she do?

“Mmph—mm—!”

Martiana clutched at her throat, trying to scream.

‘Help me! Please, someone save me!”

She tried to force the words out, but she couldn’t. Even in this desperate moment, the voice that had once closed itself would not open.

The road was remote, but still close to the duchy. There might be someone nearby.

“Mmph! Ah—!”

Her frustration turned to anguish.

Please—anyone! Someone!

Martiana shrieked with all her might.

And then—

“……!”

Something was approaching her.

The ground shook with a thunderous sound.

A carriage.

It was racing towards her, seemingly heading for the duchy.

The moment she saw it, Martiana waved her arms frantically.

‘Here! Over here!’

She ran towards it, shouting as loudly as she could. Surely they would notice her on this deserted road?

But then—

“Hyah!”

Nobody in the carriage noticed her.

In fact, none of them looked at her.

Not even the coachman.

Nor the person inside.

It was Martiana who saw them instead.

“Ah—”

The moment she did, she froze.

Every movement stopped.

As the carriage passed her, a chill ran down her spine.

“Ah…?”

Especially the woman inside.

And the child she was holding.

Martiana saw them at once.

“Ah…?”

Her heart slammed so violently against her ribs that she could barely breathe.

Tears spilled from her eyes without warning.

That woman was undoubtedly her sister-in-law.

And—

“My child!”

Martiana screamed with all her might. Her voice broke free for the first time in years and echoed as if it could stain the sky itself.

It was the last cry she would ever utter. The moment it left her lips, the man chasing her caught up with her and killed her.

“Ah—!”

She died with a single, piercing scream.

However, she miraculously came back to life one hour later.